The Official Scottish Rugby Thread

[weegie01]

My head is about to explode working out the Champions Cup format. Please tell if I have this right.

There are 2 pools of 12.

Tier one and tier 4 from each league play the teams not in their league home and away.

So Edinburgh play tier one and two Premiership, and one and two Top14 home and away.

That is Castres, Montpellier, Leicester and Saracens.

Easy, peasy.

Edinburgh are Tier 4. So they play the two teams who are Tier 1 in their group who are not from their 'domestic' League. So One English, One French. The English team will be either Leicester or Saracens. The French Team will be one of the two teams in the final of the Top14.

I read it and still got it wrong. Yes it is tier 1 v 4, 2 v 3, so we 'only' have tier one to worry about.

I thought it was league places not the finalists that decided ranking, so Castres and Leicester. Hopefully you are correct and we end up with Montpellier. Though I have never been to Castres, which may be lovely. I am not thinking about going to Englandshire for either of those clubs.

[Biffer]

My head is about to explode working out the Champions Cup format. Please tell if I have this right.

There are 2 pools of 12.

Tier one and tier 4 from each league play the teams not in their league home and away.

So Edinburgh play tier one and two Premiership, and one and two Top14 home and away.

That is Castres, Montpellier, Leicester and Saracens.

Easy, peasy.

Edinburgh are Tier 4. So they play the two teams who are Tier 1 in their group who are not from their 'domestic' League. So One English, One French. The English team will be either Leicester or Saracens. The French Team will be one of the two teams in the final of the Top14.

I read it and still got it wrong. Yes it is tier 1 v 4, 2 v 3, so we 'only' have tier one to worry about.

I thought it was league places not the finalists that decided ranking, so Castres and Leicester. Hopefully you are correct and we end up with Montpellier. Though I have never been to Castres, which may be lovely. I am not thinking about going to Englandshire for either of those clubs.

It's Tier 1 so can be either the 1st or 2nd seed from each country. And so far as I understand it the winner of each is the top seed. Same both ways for England, it's one of those two. Prefer Leicester for a rugby weekend and atmosphere though.

Was over in Montpellier the last time, had a great weekend. Happy with any one of the four in the semi finals tbh, would all be great trips.

[Slick]

Edinburgh are Tier 4. So they play the two teams who are Tier 1 in their group who are not from their 'domestic' League. So One English, One French. The English team will be either Leicester or Saracens. The French Team will be one of the two teams in the final of the Top14.

I read it and still got it wrong. Yes it is tier 1 v 4, 2 v 3, so we 'only' have tier one to worry about.

I thought it was league places not the finalists that decided ranking, so Castres and Leicester. Hopefully you are correct and we end up with Montpellier. Though I have never been to Castres, which may be lovely. I am not thinking about going to Englandshire for either of those clubs.

It's Tier 1 so can be either the 1st or 2nd seed from each country. And so far as I understand it the winner of each is the top seed. Same both ways for England, it's one of those two. Prefer Leicester for a rugby weekend and atmosphere though.

Was over in Montpellier the last time, had a great weekend. Happy with any one of the four in the semi finals tbh, would all be great trips.

Yup, going to make a big effort this year to get out to a French and Italian game. Also keen on Ulster

[Jock42]

2 years I spent in Belfast and not once did I manage to get to a match.

I keep saying I need to get to games more, still haven't managed to get to mini Murrayfield. I've got less of an excuse with my degree almost done.

Leicester would suit me. Got family an hour or 2 away from there who might be keen to go to the match.

[Jock42]

Also, Todd Blackadder to Glasgow heavily rumoured including Mark Palmer in the Times.

Not sure about that as an appointment. The same with Horne although I've been wrong about Toonie and Blair so clearly I know fuck all

[Biffer]

Hastings out of the summer tour with a hamstring injury. So Kinghorn at ten it seems.

Interesting to see if Fin Smith gets the call now though.

Huw Jones also out. So FB is very open too

[Slick]

Hastings out of the summer tour with a hamstring injury. So Kinghorn at ten it seems.

Interesting to see if Fin Smith gets the call now though.

Huw Jones also out. So FB is very open too

Hastings is a big blow and a massive shame for Jones.

I mean, we do have an international quality full back already in the team.... but would also like to see Ollie Smith thrown in to see how he gets on - I suspect he would thrive

[Yr Alban]

Hastings out of the summer tour with a hamstring injury. So Kinghorn at ten it seems.

Interesting to see if Fin Smith gets the call now though.

Huw Jones also out. So FB is very open too

Very disappointed about both of these. Both players had a great opportunity to re-establish themselves in the team.

[I like neeps]

Disappointing Hastings is out but Kinghorn was going to start at 10 so the plan won't have changed.

Really thought this was Jones' chance to become nailed on second choice fullback.

Good for Johnny Matthews though. From boroughmuir to Scotland and he's taken the hard route.

[Big D]

Also, Todd Blackadder to Glasgow heavily rumoured including Mark Palmer in the Times.

Not sure about that as an appointment. The same with Horne although I've been wrong about Toonie and Blair so clearly I know fuck all

I am not a fan of the Horne appointment, purely because the new HC isn't in place. By all means we should be encouraging Scottish coaches being involved but at least give the new HC a choice of Scot.

[I like neeps]

Also, Todd Blackadder to Glasgow heavily rumoured including Mark Palmer in the Times.

Not sure about that as an appointment. The same with Horne although I've been wrong about Toonie and Blair so clearly I know fuck all

I am not a fan of the Horne appointment, purely because the new HC isn't in place. By all means we should be encouraging Scottish coaches being involved but at least give the new HC a choice of Scot.

The skills coach job was on the SRU website for sometime and the salary was 40k. Not sure any HC will be bringing one across for what's quite a low value position.

[Big D]

Not sure about that as an appointment. The same with Horne although I've been wrong about Toonie and Blair so clearly I know fuck all

I am not a fan of the Horne appointment, purely because the new HC isn't in place. By all means we should be encouraging Scottish coaches being involved but at least give the new HC a choice of Scot.

The skills coach job was on the SRU website for sometime and the salary was 40k. Not sure any HC will be bringing one across for what's quite a low value position.

It isn't so much the value or who it is but not giving the new coach some choice even if it had parameters, especially when the HC will be in post soon. Mike Blair was in place before he hired his skills coach. Don't see why this role had to be any different.

[I like neeps]

I am not a fan of the Horne appointment, purely because the new HC isn't in place. By all means we should be encouraging Scottish coaches being involved but at least give the new HC a choice of Scot.

The skills coach job was on the SRU website for sometime and the salary was 40k. Not sure any HC will be bringing one across for what's quite a low value position.

It isn't so much the value or who it is but not giving the new coach some choice even if it had parameters, especially when the HC will be in post soon. Mike Blair was in place before he hired his skills coach. Don't see why this role had to be any different.

Barber is also Edinburgh's attack coach isn't he? Blair, Cockers, Rennie were all given a lot of coaches or inherited them. The SRU aren't in the business of paying off assistant coaches.

Could be any number of reasons - quality of applicants, Horne was hired before Wilson was fired etc. Ultimately I doubt any coach will be so upset with a skills coach hiring it makes the job less (or more appealing). And when working with Glasgow or Edinburgh you have to accept a significant amount of SRU involvement anyway. You don't really control who your players are or who your coaches are. You coach with what you're given. That's the job for better or worse.

[Biffer]

The skills coach job was on the SRU website for sometime and the salary was 40k. Not sure any HC will be bringing one across for what's quite a low value position.

It isn't so much the value or who it is but not giving the new coach some choice even if it had parameters, especially when the HC will be in post soon. Mike Blair was in place before he hired his skills coach. Don't see why this role had to be any different.

Barber is also Edinburgh's attack coach isn't he? Blair, Cockers, Rennie were all given a lot of coaches or inherited them. The SRU aren't in the business of paying off assistant coaches.

Could be any number of reasons - quality of applicants, Horne was hired before Wilson was fired etc. Ultimately I doubt any coach will be so upset with a skills coach hiring it makes the job less (or more appealing). And when working with Glasgow or Edinburgh you have to accept a significant amount of SRU involvement anyway. You don't really control who your players are or who your coaches are. You coach with what you're given. That's the job for better or worse.

More that if the incoming coach considers it one of his areas, and he has a limited number of assistants, he may want to use that position as something else e.g. breakdown or lineout coach.

[I like neeps]

It isn't so much the value or who it is but not giving the new coach some choice even if it had parameters, especially when the HC will be in post soon. Mike Blair was in place before he hired his skills coach. Don't see why this role had to be any different.

Barber is also Edinburgh's attack coach isn't he? Blair, Cockers, Rennie were all given a lot of coaches or inherited them. The SRU aren't in the business of paying off assistant coaches.

Could be any number of reasons - quality of applicants, Horne was hired before Wilson was fired etc. Ultimately I doubt any coach will be so upset with a skills coach hiring it makes the job less (or more appealing). And when working with Glasgow or Edinburgh you have to accept a significant amount of SRU involvement anyway. You don't really control who your players are or who your coaches are. You coach with what you're given. That's the job for better or worse.

More that if the incoming coach considers it one of his areas, and he has a limited number of assistants, he may want to use that position as something else e.g. breakdown or lineout coach.

Fair point but skills coaching is very technical minor stuff unlike defence, attack, forwards etc. Blair was a skills coach but hired one to do skills and attack for Edinburgh, for example.

However, still not sure it's a big issue. Cockers for example forwards coach through and through had two forwards coaches thrust on him (Grant I think and Lawrie). Rennie is an attack minded coach as JoH was moved across as Toonie didn't need him at Scotland etc etc.

Would be very surprised if any coach signed up expecting significant say in coaching hires.

[Big D]

The skills coach job was on the SRU website for sometime and the salary was 40k. Not sure any HC will be bringing one across for what's quite a low value position.

It isn't so much the value or who it is but not giving the new coach some choice even if it had parameters, especially when the HC will be in post soon. Mike Blair was in place before he hired his skills coach. Don't see why this role had to be any different.

Barber is also Edinburgh's attack coach isn't he? Blair, Cockers, Rennie were all given a lot of coaches or inherited them. The SRU aren't in the business of paying off assistant coaches.

Could be any number of reasons - quality of applicants, Horne was hired before Wilson was fired etc. Ultimately I doubt any coach will be so upset with a skills coach hiring it makes the job less (or more appealing). And when working with Glasgow or Edinburgh you have to accept a significant amount of SRU involvement anyway. You don't really control who your players are or who your coaches are. You coach with what you're given. That's the job for better or worse.

"Skills and assistant attack" coach. Whatever that really means.

I have no qualms on SRU exerting a lot of control on coaches but there should be some leeway within that control IMO. As it stands the incoming HC has no control at all over his staff including one non Scot. Was daft that Edinburgh kept Hodge on under Cockerill too. It is rarely just the HC that is the issue at clubs.

[I like neeps]

It isn't so much the value or who it is but not giving the new coach some choice even if it had parameters, especially when the HC will be in post soon. Mike Blair was in place before he hired his skills coach. Don't see why this role had to be any different.

Barber is also Edinburgh's attack coach isn't he? Blair, Cockers, Rennie were all given a lot of coaches or inherited them. The SRU aren't in the business of paying off assistant coaches.

Could be any number of reasons - quality of applicants, Horne was hired before Wilson was fired etc. Ultimately I doubt any coach will be so upset with a skills coach hiring it makes the job less (or more appealing). And when working with Glasgow or Edinburgh you have to accept a significant amount of SRU involvement anyway. You don't really control who your players are or who your coaches are. You coach with what you're given. That's the job for better or worse.

"Skills and assistant attack" coach. Whatever that really means.

I have no qualms on SRU exerting a lot of control on coaches but there should be some leeway within that control IMO. As it stands the incoming HC has no control at all over his staff including one non Scot. Was daft that Edinburgh kept Hodge on under Cockerill too. It is rarely just the HC that is the issue at clubs.

Hodge had his contract extended during Cockerill's time in charge it's worth noting. It's unlikely they had a bad working relationship.

I imagine the leeway is when contracts are up for renegotiations. The SRU just don't have the money for paying off assistant coaches (when they do get rid it's usually a weird move like putting them in charge of the under20s). You'd think Mike Blair would have some say in the new defence coach but it'll be an SRU run process.

I think Horne was likely already hired. But a 40k skills coach is a job for a former player rather than a coaches selection. I imagine all skills coaches do the same type of role it's not an attack, forwards or defence coach.

[KingBlairhorn]

It’s a quite uniquely ‘sports’ thing the concept of firing and hiring full management teams at once. It’s actually quite odd when you think about it. I can imagine the hilarity if I tried to bring in an entirely new management team every time I moved jobs, especially when I had made zero attempt to utilise the existing team effectively.

Regardless of what they are doing every day, be it engineers, doctors or sportspeople, a good manager should be able to get the best out of their existing team. Allowing them to use excuses around the quality of junior/middle managers shouldn’t be accepted. I think the SRU stance here is correct; if there is a vacancy then by all means give the manager say/oversight, otherwise they inherit and deal with what is already there.

[Jock42]

Only seen the last half hour but the edi gla super 6 match has been entertaining.

[Jock42]

It’s a quite uniquely ‘sports’ thing the concept of firing and hiring full management teams at once. It’s actually quite odd when you think about it. I can imagine the hilarity if I tried to bring in an entirely new management team every time I moved jobs, especially when I had made zero attempt to utilise the existing team effectively.

Regardless of what they are doing every day, be it engineers, doctors or sportspeople, a good manager should be able to get the best out of their existing team. Allowing them to use excuses around the quality of junior/middle managers shouldn’t be accepted. I think the SRU stance here is correct; if there is a vacancy then by all means give the manager say/oversight, otherwise they inherit and deal with what is already there.

I'd be quite happy if my entire managerial team was changed tbh

[I like neeps]

Matt Scott gets himself yellow carded in the final. Christie having a great game. Super Dunc is on - give him this one universe.

[KingBlairhorn]

It’s a quite uniquely ‘sports’ thing the concept of firing and hiring full management teams at once. It’s actually quite odd when you think about it. I can imagine the hilarity if I tried to bring in an entirely new management team every time I moved jobs, especially when I had made zero attempt to utilise the existing team effectively.

Regardless of what they are doing every day, be it engineers, doctors or sportspeople, a good manager should be able to get the best out of their existing team. Allowing them to use excuses around the quality of junior/middle managers shouldn’t be accepted. I think the SRU stance here is correct; if there is a vacancy then by all means give the manager say/oversight, otherwise they inherit and deal with what is already there.

I'd be quite happy if my entire managerial team was changed tbh

I didn’t say it isn’t worth trying

[Biffer]

So Edinburgh will have game against either Leicester or Sarries, and against either Montpellier or Castres.

High profile games coming to the DAM. Nice wee trip to France, I’d enjoy a trip to Leicester, Saracens meh.

[I like neeps]

So Edinburgh will have game against either Leicester or Sarries, and against either Montpellier or Castres.

High profile games coming to the DAM. Nice wee trip to France, I’d enjoy a trip to Leicester, Saracens meh.

Sarries is an excellent set up though. If Edinburgh get Sarries the SRU should be down to the stoneX to see how they've done it. Players run drinks companies - like Damo's coffee at the dam tbf - really good food outlets. Convenient place to stay before and after the match to increase revenue. It's a good place to watch rugby.

[SaintK]

The Rugby Paper reporting that Blackadder has cooled on the idea of of the Glasgow job. They are evidently in talks with Dean Richards now!!

[mos_eisely_]

So Edinburgh will have game against either Leicester or Sarries, and against either Montpellier or Castres.

High profile games coming to the DAM. Nice wee trip to France, I’d enjoy a trip to Leicester, Saracens meh.

Sarries is an excellent set up though. If Edinburgh get Sarries the SRU should be down to the stoneX to see how they've done it. Players run drinks companies - like Damo's coffee at the dam tbf - really good food outlets. Convenient place to stay before and after the match to increase revenue. It's a good place to watch rugby.

We played Sarries at the StoneX this season, and the consensus I heard from everyone who made the away trip was that their stadium was pretty crap and souless.

Weren't the Sarries players run companies part of what helped them evade salary cap?

[I like neeps]

So Edinburgh will have game against either Leicester or Sarries, and against either Montpellier or Castres.

High profile games coming to the DAM. Nice wee trip to France, I’d enjoy a trip to Leicester, Saracens meh.

Sarries is an excellent set up though. If Edinburgh get Sarries the SRU should be down to the stoneX to see how they've done it. Players run drinks companies - like Damo's coffee at the dam tbf - really good food outlets. Convenient place to stay before and after the match to increase revenue. It's a good place to watch rugby.

We played Sarries at the StoneX this season, and the consensus I heard from everyone who made the away trip was that their stadium was pretty crap and souless.

Weren't the Sarries players run companies part of what helped them evade salary cap?

I was also at that game and pishing down in late November and in the challenge cup so it was never going to get anyone too excited. In any case, the atmosphere isn't amazing but it's a very good set up because it links with the local community, it supports former players, it maximises revenue opportunities but in a way that you don't really notice. It's a good set up - Edinburgh and Glasgow's matchday offerings are pretty limited whilst also having a quote unquote modern stadium without the history of a place like Welford road.

On if that was the salary cap abuse, I'm not sure, maybe an English fan will know. Maybe he did put in some seed funding for the businesses. But helping players set up legit businesses like coffee/beers etc isn't the problem. It's the shell investment companies he set up. I read up on it - didn't invest in Barritt's but he did in the beer brand (so did Jim Hamilton). I guess you'd have to get into the loan terms etc to see any breach.

[Slick]

It’s pretty unbelievable that as we pretend to worry about player welfare that the squad is leaving for South America this morning

[I like neeps]

The Rugby Paper reporting that Blackadder has cooled on the idea of of the Glasgow job. They are evidently in talks with Dean Richards now!!

Richards, Mallinder, all we need is Cockerill to return and the band is back together!

A year of Richards to get standards back up and then John Dalziel is given the role wouldn't be awful. Wouldn't be great either mind.

[Biffer]

So Edinburgh will have game against either Leicester or Sarries, and against either Montpellier or Castres.

High profile games coming to the DAM. Nice wee trip to France, I’d enjoy a trip to Leicester, Saracens meh.

Sarries is an excellent set up though. If Edinburgh get Sarries the SRU should be down to the stoneX to see how they've done it. Players run drinks companies - like Damo's coffee at the dam tbf - really good food outlets. Convenient place to stay before and after the match to increase revenue. It's a good place to watch rugby.

We played Sarries at the StoneX this season, and the consensus I heard from everyone who made the away trip was that their stadium was pretty crap and souless.

Weren't the Sarries players run companies part of what helped them evade salary cap?

This is the consensus I’ve heard from most visiting fans. Little atmosphere, fans aren’t much crack, miles away from the nearest tube station etc. I mean I’d probably still go but I’d rather have a weekend in Leicester. Not a phrase I thought I’d ever say.

[SaintK]

Sarries is an excellent set up though. If Edinburgh get Sarries the SRU should be down to the stoneX to see how they've done it. Players run drinks companies - like Damo's coffee at the dam tbf - really good food outlets. Convenient place to stay before and after the match to increase revenue. It's a good place to watch rugby.

We played Sarries at the StoneX this season, and the consensus I heard from everyone who made the away trip was that their stadium was pretty crap and souless.

Weren't the Sarries players run companies part of what helped them evade salary cap?

This is the consensus I’ve heard from most visiting fans. Little atmosphere, fans aren’t much crack, miles away from the nearest tube station etc. I mean I’d probably still go but I’d rather have a weekend in Leicester. Not a phrase I thought I’d ever say.

Mill Hill East is less than 2 miles away
Hendon Central is just over 2 miles away
I've been a few times, the fans seem about the same as any other club.
What is souless are the rows and rows of empty seats at the football stadiums that Wasps and Bristol play in

[I like neeps]

We played Sarries at the StoneX this season, and the consensus I heard from everyone who made the away trip was that their stadium was pretty crap and souless.

Weren't the Sarries players run companies part of what helped them evade salary cap?

This is the consensus I’ve heard from most visiting fans. Little atmosphere, fans aren’t much crack, miles away from the nearest tube station etc. I mean I’d probably still go but I’d rather have a weekend in Leicester. Not a phrase I thought I’d ever say.

Mill Hill East is less than 2 miles away
Hendon Central is just over 2 miles away
I've been a few times, the fans seem about the same as any other club.
What is souless are the rows and rows of empty seats at the football stadiums that Wasps and Bristol play in

Agreed. Atmosphere at sports games is very much dependant on the spectacle. Glasgow spend ages talking about the atmosphere at Scotstoun. Now the team aren't very good - the atmosphere isn't either. Coincidence? No.

However - I did not mention atmosphere in what the SRU should copy - they should copy the set up which I still believe. Sarries have fostered a community between the players and the fans. Yes they cheated, no the stoneX isn't going to be confused for La Bombonera. But even the non cheating Sarries have continued that spirit. Something definitely Glasgow lost and Edinburgh to their credit are building. I like walking around the StoneX and seeing player and community led initiatives and businesses. Scottish rugby could do more of that. Just like my trip to the DAM I enjoyed Damo's coffee - it's good to have that stuff and Sarries do it better than any ground I've been to. It's especially good for a team who maybe lacks that history like a Leicester/Bath/Gloucester and their storied stadiums.

[Biffer]

This is the consensus I’ve heard from most visiting fans. Little atmosphere, fans aren’t much crack, miles away from the nearest tube station etc. I mean I’d probably still go but I’d rather have a weekend in Leicester. Not a phrase I thought I’d ever say.

Mill Hill East is less than 2 miles away
Hendon Central is just over 2 miles away
I've been a few times, the fans seem about the same as any other club.
What is souless are the rows and rows of empty seats at the football stadiums that Wasps and Bristol play in

Agreed. Atmosphere at sports games is very much dependant on the spectacle. Glasgow spend ages talking about the atmosphere at Scotstoun. Now the team aren't very good - the atmosphere isn't either. Coincidence? No.

However - I did not mention atmosphere in what the SRU should copy - they should copy the set up which I still believe. Sarries have fostered a community between the players and the fans. Yes they cheated, no the stoneX isn't going to be confused for La Bombonera. But even the non cheating Sarries have continued that spirit. Something definitely Glasgow lost and Edinburgh to their credit are building. I like walking around the StoneX and seeing player and community led initiatives and businesses. Scottish rugby could do more of that. Just like my trip to the DAM I enjoyed Damo's coffee - it's good to have that stuff and Sarries do it better than any ground I've been to. It's especially good for a team who maybe lacks that history like a Leicester/Bath/Gloucester and their storied stadiums.

To be honest, former Sarries players owning food stalls doesn’t give me much desire to go to StoneX, which was what my original post was about.

[I like neeps]

Mill Hill East is less than 2 miles away
Hendon Central is just over 2 miles away
I've been a few times, the fans seem about the same as any other club.
What is souless are the rows and rows of empty seats at the football stadiums that Wasps and Bristol play in

Agreed. Atmosphere at sports games is very much dependant on the spectacle. Glasgow spend ages talking about the atmosphere at Scotstoun. Now the team aren't very good - the atmosphere isn't either. Coincidence? No.

However - I did not mention atmosphere in what the SRU should copy - they should copy the set up which I still believe. Sarries have fostered a community between the players and the fans. Yes they cheated, no the stoneX isn't going to be confused for La Bombonera. But even the non cheating Sarries have continued that spirit. Something definitely Glasgow lost and Edinburgh to their credit are building. I like walking around the StoneX and seeing player and community led initiatives and businesses. Scottish rugby could do more of that. Just like my trip to the DAM I enjoyed Damo's coffee - it's good to have that stuff and Sarries do it better than any ground I've been to. It's especially good for a team who maybe lacks that history like a Leicester/Bath/Gloucester and their storied stadiums.

To be honest, former Sarries players owning food stalls doesn’t give me much desire to go to StoneX, which was what my original post was about.

Any my reply was not that you should go because of that. It's that the SRU should take notes if they do.

[Big D]

The Rugby Paper reporting that Blackadder has cooled on the idea of of the Glasgow job. They are evidently in talks with Dean Richards now!!

Richards, Mallinder, all we need is Cockerill to return and the band is back together!

A year of Richards to get standards back up and then John Dalziel is given the role wouldn't be awful. Wouldn't be great either mind.

That frustrates me a little. Sides are now beginning to trust younger coaches, Borthwick, Skivington, Sanderson, Blair etc and most of them are making a pretty good fist of it. Granted there are the Hoopers of the world too but Richards has been around the bottom of the league for years and even allowing for them having a small budget hasn't had much that could be called a success in the last few years except winning the championship.

[I like neeps]

The Rugby Paper reporting that Blackadder has cooled on the idea of of the Glasgow job. They are evidently in talks with Dean Richards now!!

Richards, Mallinder, all we need is Cockerill to return and the band is back together!

A year of Richards to get standards back up and then John Dalziel is given the role wouldn't be awful. Wouldn't be great either mind.

That frustrates me a little. Sides are now beginning to trust younger coaches, Borthwick, Skivington, Sanderson, Blair etc and most of them are making a pretty good fist of it. Granted there are the Hoopers of the world too but Richards has been around the bottom of the league for years and even allowing for them having a small budget hasn't had much that could be called a success in the last few years except winning the championship.

Agree but the only young coach in Scotland who has earned his stripes is Dalziel and because it's world cup year he's likely off limits.

I reckon best case for the SRU would have been Wilson leaves next year and Dalziel replaced him.

[Big D]

Richards, Mallinder, all we need is Cockerill to return and the band is back together!

A year of Richards to get standards back up and then John Dalziel is given the role wouldn't be awful. Wouldn't be great either mind.

That frustrates me a little. Sides are now beginning to trust younger coaches, Borthwick, Skivington, Sanderson, Blair etc and most of them are making a pretty good fist of it. Granted there are the Hoopers of the world too but Richards has been around the bottom of the league for years and even allowing for them having a small budget hasn't had much that could be called a success in the last few years except winning the championship.

Agree but the only young coach in Scotland who has earned his stripes is Dalziel and because it's world cup year he's likely off limits.

I reckon best case for the SRU would have been Wilson leaves next year and Dalziel replaced him.

Yeah, not many young Scots in obvious roles. Murray was probably retained too long at Glasgow if there weren't bigger plans for him. Kelly Brown came to mind but seems his family are best settled in England. Laidlaw has 7s coaching but maybe been out of 15s too long for a HC role.

If they are considering Richards, then it doesn't need to be a young Scot I suppose. When it comes to recruitment I am a fan of better asking and being told no rather than assuming the answer is no. Someone like a Nick Evans would fit the way Glasgow want to play and be really good for Thomson. Of course the "why would he leave where he is" argument is very valid, and he likely would say no but why not ask rather than settle for a dinosaur. In fairness, they might be casting the net far and wide in the background.

I think it'll prove a blessing that Blackadder didn't want it.

[Biffer]

Edinburgh preseason games annou8ncs. Home v London Scottish 2nd September and away to Benetton on the 9th. Got to assume the season starts weekend of the 16th.

That would make the final mid June again and have some URC games during the 6Ns. W/e of 16th September to mid June is by my count 40 weekends. 18 URC games, 3 URC playoff games, 4 AIs, 5 6Ns, 4 Heineken pool, 4 Heineken knockout = 38 game weekends. So no clashes and no play during 6Ns? Also gives two free weekends before the international windows? Anyone want to check my counting?

[KingBlairhorn]

away to Benetton on the 9th

Bleurgh. Why? Unimaginative pish - other than Glasgow there is no team Edinburgh play more. The cynic in me says they were more interested in nice wee summer trip to Treviso than preparing properly for the new season.

[KingBlairhorn]

Team is out. Perhaps a few clues to the starters in the first test.